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New day dawns for health care in United States

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Monday December 30, 2013 6:19 AM

This coming Wednesday, Jan. 1, will mark a new day in health care for
millions of families and individuals throughout Ohio.

Starting Wednesday, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny coverage or
charge more because of a pre-existing medical condition like diabetes, high blood pressure or
asthma. And they no longer will be able to drop a person from coverage just because he gets sick or
into an accident.

What’s more, insurance companies no longer will impose an annual cap on health benefits. They
won’t be able to deny coverage simply because of a mistake on the paperwork. Most plans must cover
preventive services like cholesterol and cancer screenings at no out-of-pocket cost. And, being a
woman no longer will be a pre-existing condition.

It’s all thanks to the health-care law: the Affordable Care Act.

Those who do not have health insurance through their job have an opportunity to obtain
high-quality, affordable coverage through HealthCare.gov. In fact, they might even qualify for
financial assistance to help lower the cost of their premiums.

The health insurance marketplace has brought choice and competition to Ohio that were previously
unavailable: In the Columbus area, residents can choose from 29 qualified health plans.

As millions of Americans learn about their new options, they’re finding just how affordable
health coverage can be under the new law. A family of four in Columbus earning $50,000 per year can
obtain affordable coverage for as little as $273 per month (with premium tax credits).

Nationwide, 6 in 10 uninsured Americans can obtain coverage for as little as $100 a month or
less.

And make no mistake: The plans offered on the marketplace are actual, honest-to-goodness health
insurance. By law, they must cover a set of essential benefits, including visits with doctors,
prescription medications, hospital stays, ambulatory care, maternity and newborn care and
preventive services.

People still have three more months to enroll in affordable coverage; the deadline is March 31,
2014.

Those who want health insurance to begin Feb. 1 need to sign up by Jan. 15.

Enroll online at HealthCare.gov, by phone at 1-800-318-2596/TTY 1-855-889-4325, on paper, or
directly through an insurer, agent or broker. One also can find in-person assistance at
https://LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov.

This is a milestone for the many families that have waited too long for affordable health
insurance because of a broken system that was stacked against them. Before today, Americans could
be dropped from coverage when they got sick, or locked out of the system if they had a health
condition, or priced out in the first place because of their health status. Now, not only are there
new rights and benefits, we also are seeing the slowest health-care price inflation in 50
years.

Whenever I travel to Ohio, I meet folks who tell me how long they’ve been waiting for the
opportunity to obtain affordable coverage. Some have even been waiting their entire lives.

I keep thinking about Diane, whom I met recently in Michigan. In the past, Diane’s pre-existing
medical condition had made finding high-quality, affordable health insurance nearly impossible.
After being uninsured for more than six years, she recently enrolled in coverage using
HealthCare.gov. Now, Diane no longer needs to worry about treating her condition — or going
bankrupt because of an unexpected illness or injury.